Moreland comes off DL to start against Angels

By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com

ARLINGTON -- First baseman Mitch Moreland was back in the Rangers lineup on Monday after being activated off the disabled list. The Rangers made room for him by returning outfielder Leonys Martin to Triple-A Round Rock.

Moreland hasn't played with the Rangers since straining his left hamstring muscle in a game against the Padres on June 19. He was 5-for-19 in five games on a medical rehabilitation assignment.

"I feel great and my hamstring feels great," Moreland said. "I played five games and I feel like I'm ready to play and get back out there. I have to be careful, but I've tested it a couple of times and have had no problems, just normal tightness and soreness. Everything else has been good."

Moreland is hitting .255 with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs in 55 games with the Rangers. He has a .326 on-base percentage and a .513 slugging percentage.

"I'm just looking for Moreland to be what he was before he went down, a player who can make a difference," manager Ron Washington said. "It may take him awhile to make adjustments, but it's nice to have him in the lineup because he can make a difference."

Less than day before Trade Deadline, Rangers in mix

ARLINGTON -- As of Monday afternoon, Rangers manager Ron Washington said Scott Feldman is starting on Friday night against the Royals. Washington said that just about 24 hours before Tuesday's non-waiver Trade Deadline.

"Scott is going to get his start," Washington said. "He is planning for his next start."

That could change if the Rangers make a big trade for a starter before the Deadline, but as of Monday afternoon, there was little sign of that getting ready to happen. There was talk of the Red Sox moving Josh Beckett and the Phillies willing to trade Cliff Lee but nothing that gained traction.

The Rangers were mentioned as suitors, and they are being exhaustive in exploring every possibility out there. That includes possible reliever targets such as Kansas City's Jonathan Broxton, Colorado's Rafael Betancourt and Seattle's Brandon League.

An industry source said the chances of Lee returning to the Rangers were "less than 1 percent." Both Lee and Beckett have big-money contracts that would make any trade difficult.

At this point the Rangers rotation consists of Feldman, Roy Oswalt, Derek Holland, Yu Darvish and Matt Harrison. The Rangers may be content to go with that and reinforce the bullpen. Oswalt was on the mound Monday night against the Angels after missing a start because of tightness in his lower back.

"Oswalt is just getting back from his back thing, we'll see how that goes," Washington said. "The rest ... so far have been very good. They've given us what they need."

But that hasn't stopped the Rangers from looking at what's available.

"There's always a need for starting pitching," Washington said. "If there's starting pitching that could help us, we're not going to run from it ... especially if it makes us better."

Rangers awaiting results of Feliz's medical exam

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers have still not released any information on pitcher Neftali Feliz, who has been on the disabled list since May 19 with a sprained right elbow and was scratched from a rehab assignment on Sunday night because of more discomfort.

Feliz was scheduled to be examined on Monday. The results of that examination are expected to be used to determine the immediate plans for Feliz. But the Rangers, who are focused on Tuesday's Trade Deadline, may wait until they have more time to thoroughly consider Feliz's situation.

"There is nothing new other than what we told you yesterday," manager Ron Washington said.

The Rangers also haven't progressed any further with their plan to stretch out Alexi Ogando in case they want to put him into their rotation. He threw 44 pitches in relief on Friday and hasn't pitched in a game since then.

Adams and wife to host fundraiser at Ballpark

ARLINGTON -- Rangers reliever Mike Adams and his wife, Shelly, will host a Mystery Ball fundraiser at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Tuesday. The event will benefit Operation Smile, a non-profit organization that provides free facial reconstruction for children born with facial deformities.

Over 350 mystery balls will be sold for $50 a chance from the time gates open through 8 p.m. CT. Each will contain a baseball autographed by a Rangers player as well as other celebrities. The sale will continue on Wednesday if there are any mystery balls remaining.

Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Va., is an international children's medical charity with a presence in more than 60 countries whose network of more than 5,000 medical volunteers from over 80 countries is dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children. Since its founding in 1982, Operation Smile has provided more than 2 million healthcare evaluations and conducted more than 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities, as well as patients suffering from burns.

Worth noting

 Josh Hamilton was in the fifth spot in the lineup for the second straight game on Monday. Said manager Ron Washington, "I'll probably keep him there until it comes out of my pen that he's hitting third. I just want him to get at-bats where he can slow things down. Through all of this, Josh will be fine. He's too talented not to."

 Luis Ortiz, the Rangers' Minor League assistant hitting coordinator, will spend the next few days with the big league team. Ortiz spends much of his time working with the younger players in the lower levels.

 Ortiz on Joey Gallo, the Rangers' second-round pick who is hitting .327 with 13 home runs and 33 RBIs in 31 games in the Arizona Rookie League: "He's unbelievable. That kid has some kind of power. He's a hard worker and very focused. There are a bunch of kids on that team that we're going to have fun working with the next few years."

 Ortiz on Jairo Beras, the Dominican outfielder who has just begun serving his one-year suspension: "He's starting to settle down now that everything is done. He's started to play in exhibition games. It's fun to watch his batting practice shots. He's good. He can be the total package."

 Double-A Frisco outfielder Engel Beltre was named the Texas League Player of the Week for the second week in a row. Over the last 13 games, Beltre is batting .404 (23-for-57) with four doubles, three triples, five home runs, seven RBIs, 18 runs scored and five steals. During July, Beltre is hitting .319 with a .358 on-base percentage and a .602 slugging percentage. In 26 games he has six home runs and 15 RBIs.

 Class A Myrtle Beach third baseman Christian Villanueva has been named the Carolina League Player of the Week. Villanueva hit .560 last week, going 14-for-25 in seven games with two home runs, two runs scored, 11 RBIs, three walks and five hit-by-pitches.